Uttar Pradesh a land that changes fortunes: Kovind

“UP is a distinct state. It has the blessings that helped nurtured many great personalities.”

Kovind expressed gratitude to the people of UP and described it as a place where cultures have evolved and religions have emerged.(HT Photo)

President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday described his home state Uttar Pradesh as ‘Bhagya Badalne Wala Pradesh’ (the land that changes fortunes).

On his maiden visit to Lucknow after assuming office, Kovind expressed gratitude to the people of UP and described it as a place where cultures have evolved and religions have emerged.

BAGHPAT TRAGEDY LEAVES PRESIDENT UPSET

Baghpat boat tragedy that claimed the lives of 19 passengers on Thursday moved President Ram Nath Kovind who termed it as a tragic incident.

He, along with others observed two-minute silence in the memory of the ill-fated passengers. The event was held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow.

Kovind, who seemed visibly upset, also began his address by mentioning about the incident.

“We all are human beings and often get upset over such incidents. I got the news when I was entering the venue. I was in a fix that how can I be felicitated on such a sad day. But, it is the love of the people that compelled me to attend the event,” he said.

He was speaking at a programme organised by the state government to felicitate the president

“UP is a distinct state. It has the blessings that helped nurtured many great personalities,” he said while citing example of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, who were born here.

“Be it in terms of education, or of religious places such as Mathura, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Kushinagar and Varanasi or its role in the field of art and culture, UP’s contribution is unquestionable,” said the president in his short speech.

The president also asked the people to identify the hidden message behind Lucknow’s famous ‘pehle aap tehzeeb.’

“It actually means promote others first, a courtesy or an etiquette that can only be seen being extended in UP,” said the president while thanking chief minister Yogi Adityanath for the grand welcome.

Adityanath, who gifted a brass statute of Gautam Buddha to the president, said Kovind’s life is an inspiration for others.

“People should learn from his life that was full of struggle. I still remember the line that Kovind ji mentioned in is address during the swearing in—main ek chhote se gaon ke mitti ke ghar mein pala hua hoon (I am brought up in a small mud house in a small village). It touched me,” the chief minister said.

The chief minister also highlighted various government schemes and programme launched by the state government and promised to make UP an open defecation free (ODF) state by October 2018.

Governor Ram Naik shared his relationship with the president and talked about the days of struggle that they faced together.

The president will leave for Deen Dayal Upadhayaya Smriti Vatika at around 10:30am on Friday to pay tribute and then would leave for Kanpur at around 2:15pm to take part in the cleanliness drive at Ishwariganj village of Kanpur.

He will launch a programme—‘Swacchata Hi Seva Hai’ in Kanpur before going back to Delhi via Lucknow in the evening.